Heart-Warming Hearths to Cosy Up Your Kitchen
Gain winter inspiration for the heart of your home with this worldly collection of kitchens that have really turned up the heat
Gathering around an open fire used to be an activity at the heart of both family cooking and a traditional sense of community. But in the last hundred years or so, open wood fires, coal ranges and wood-burning stoves began to be banished from our kitchens in favour of modern gas and electrical appliances. Are they cleaner? Sure. Faster? Absolutely. As good for the soul? … Not so much.
Here are some of our favourite examples of the heart being brought back into a kitchen, with the introduction of an old-fashioned wood-burning fire or stove. Roll out a rug, pull up a chair, and enjoy this cosy collection from New Zealand and around the world that once more makes fire the centre of family life.
Here are some of our favourite examples of the heart being brought back into a kitchen, with the introduction of an old-fashioned wood-burning fire or stove. Roll out a rug, pull up a chair, and enjoy this cosy collection from New Zealand and around the world that once more makes fire the centre of family life.
2. Sitting room segue
If you’re renovating an old house and converting a living room into a kitchen, make sure you don’t rip out the old fireplace. If you don’t have room for a full mantlepiece, simplify it with crisp custom moulding that ties in with your cabinetry. And leave plenty of room to pull up a chair.
If you’re renovating an old house and converting a living room into a kitchen, make sure you don’t rip out the old fireplace. If you don’t have room for a full mantlepiece, simplify it with crisp custom moulding that ties in with your cabinetry. And leave plenty of room to pull up a chair.
3. Double duty
This rustic old-school fireplace does double duty for weekend cooking. Hunt around for a cast-iron dutch oven for stews or dampers, flame-grilled meat, foil-wrapped roast potatoes or let the kids toast marshmallows for a treat. It’s like camping, only dryer and a whole lot cosier.
This rustic old-school fireplace does double duty for weekend cooking. Hunt around for a cast-iron dutch oven for stews or dampers, flame-grilled meat, foil-wrapped roast potatoes or let the kids toast marshmallows for a treat. It’s like camping, only dryer and a whole lot cosier.
4. Off to the side
Even in this tiny space, the owners have left a Victorian fireplace and room for an armchair. They may have sacrificed extra storage, or a walk-in pantry, but the kitchen is better for it.
Where should you put your fireplace?
Even in this tiny space, the owners have left a Victorian fireplace and room for an armchair. They may have sacrificed extra storage, or a walk-in pantry, but the kitchen is better for it.
Where should you put your fireplace?
5. New world, meet old
This kitchen owner has combined the best of both worlds – a modern cooktop within easy reach of wood fire. Be sure to get the best extraction fans you can, as well as modern chimney design, so that your flame grilling doesn’t set off the smoke alarms.
This kitchen owner has combined the best of both worlds – a modern cooktop within easy reach of wood fire. Be sure to get the best extraction fans you can, as well as modern chimney design, so that your flame grilling doesn’t set off the smoke alarms.
6. Extra delights
A grand scale fireplace/stove combination gives you the chance to add in (or retain) cooking extras like a pizza or bread oven. The owners here have kept the farm house look with grand-scaled candelabra, soap stone benches and a cosy dining nook.
A grand scale fireplace/stove combination gives you the chance to add in (or retain) cooking extras like a pizza or bread oven. The owners here have kept the farm house look with grand-scaled candelabra, soap stone benches and a cosy dining nook.
7. Heat rises
Bringing the fire up to bench height lifts the flames to eye level, as well as making it easy to lift pots on and off the flames – or warm your hands when you come in on a cold night. There’s also room below for stacking firewood so it is good and dry to burn efficiently.
Bringing the fire up to bench height lifts the flames to eye level, as well as making it easy to lift pots on and off the flames – or warm your hands when you come in on a cold night. There’s also room below for stacking firewood so it is good and dry to burn efficiently.
8. Futuristic fires
This ultra-modern fire won’t be any good for toasting marshmallows, but it does create a distinct feature at the end of the island, encouraging guests to hang around while the cook does their thing.
This ultra-modern fire won’t be any good for toasting marshmallows, but it does create a distinct feature at the end of the island, encouraging guests to hang around while the cook does their thing.
9. Scandi style
Clean and white can be cosy too. The Scandinavian countries, in one of the coldest regions on earth, bring light and charm into the darkest winter with all-white schemes. Here, the traditional ceramic tile stove captures the heat from the fire, radiating it back into the room to keep it warm for long periods of time.
Clean and white can be cosy too. The Scandinavian countries, in one of the coldest regions on earth, bring light and charm into the darkest winter with all-white schemes. Here, the traditional ceramic tile stove captures the heat from the fire, radiating it back into the room to keep it warm for long periods of time.
10. The rustic look
In Denmark, this barn conversion by Garde Hvalsoe combines sleek modern cabinets with a gorgeous deep fireplace, complete with plastered hood.
Take a look at more contemporary kitchen fireplaces
In Denmark, this barn conversion by Garde Hvalsoe combines sleek modern cabinets with a gorgeous deep fireplace, complete with plastered hood.
Take a look at more contemporary kitchen fireplaces
11. Timeless classic
In a tiny flat in London’s Notting Hill, the wee Victorian hearth was replaced with an efficient wood-burning stove. By removing the fancy mantle and installing modern timber-topped cupboards either side, the decor is timeless and Scandi, not country twee.
In a tiny flat in London’s Notting Hill, the wee Victorian hearth was replaced with an efficient wood-burning stove. By removing the fancy mantle and installing modern timber-topped cupboards either side, the decor is timeless and Scandi, not country twee.
12. Standalone star
Here, an assemblage of cabinets complements the rustic wood stove that sits at the end of the kitchen. Pulling up the dining table next to the fire encourages long lingering suppers – that sure beats having a dinner plate on your lap while sitting in front of a screen.
Here, an assemblage of cabinets complements the rustic wood stove that sits at the end of the kitchen. Pulling up the dining table next to the fire encourages long lingering suppers – that sure beats having a dinner plate on your lap while sitting in front of a screen.
13. Mid-century mix up
If the ’50s and ’60s are more your schtick, take a leaf from this homeowner, who has inserted a crisp kitchen next to the mid-century feature fireplace. A rich colour palette and smart downlighting helps make this the feature of the house.
If the ’50s and ’60s are more your schtick, take a leaf from this homeowner, who has inserted a crisp kitchen next to the mid-century feature fireplace. A rich colour palette and smart downlighting helps make this the feature of the house.
14. Farmhouse conversion
In this renovation of a 1920s school house in Auckland’s rural outskirts, designer Toni Roberts of Kitchen Architecture retiled the old classroom fireplace, staining out the chimney breast in a dark colour to create a strong vertical feature. Old-style cabinets are a modern twist on traditional china cupboards.
See this 1920s school house kitchen
In this renovation of a 1920s school house in Auckland’s rural outskirts, designer Toni Roberts of Kitchen Architecture retiled the old classroom fireplace, staining out the chimney breast in a dark colour to create a strong vertical feature. Old-style cabinets are a modern twist on traditional china cupboards.
See this 1920s school house kitchen
15. Sleek, so chic
A sleek gas flame is a beautiful highlight in this slick, all-lacquer kitchen, even if it’s not functional for cooking.
A sleek gas flame is a beautiful highlight in this slick, all-lacquer kitchen, even if it’s not functional for cooking.
16. Lodge styling
In Germany, Archifaktur Lennenstadt have recreated ski-lodge style with a modern aesthetic. The efficient wood stove warms the kitchen and living area, while the chimney heats the upstairs bedrooms. Perfect for a winter holiday.
In Germany, Archifaktur Lennenstadt have recreated ski-lodge style with a modern aesthetic. The efficient wood stove warms the kitchen and living area, while the chimney heats the upstairs bedrooms. Perfect for a winter holiday.
17. Cool comfort
Again, German architects Bau Studio Rostock have inserted a traditional-feeling fireplace into a modern kitchen in this country cottage project. Polished copper pots are pretty much mandatory.
Again, German architects Bau Studio Rostock have inserted a traditional-feeling fireplace into a modern kitchen in this country cottage project. Polished copper pots are pretty much mandatory.
18. Holiday haven
This holiday house near Madrid in Spain has as much as you need in a kitchen: simple stone benches, a drift of linen curtains, a deep old sink, and of course plenty of chairs to gather around the hearth for long evenings in with family and friends.
This holiday house near Madrid in Spain has as much as you need in a kitchen: simple stone benches, a drift of linen curtains, a deep old sink, and of course plenty of chairs to gather around the hearth for long evenings in with family and friends.
19. Pioneer spirit
From the tiniest tin sheds, to the grander Georgian-style houses shipped in from England, pioneer homes had the right idea featuring a fireplace in the centre of their kitchens and family gathering spaces. What’s to stop us from embracing this tradition in the modern age?
From the tiniest tin sheds, to the grander Georgian-style houses shipped in from England, pioneer homes had the right idea featuring a fireplace in the centre of their kitchens and family gathering spaces. What’s to stop us from embracing this tradition in the modern age?
TELL US
Would you put a fireplace in your kitchen? If you have one, show us some pictures and tell us what you love about it.
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Browse more cosy fireside retreats
Would you put a fireplace in your kitchen? If you have one, show us some pictures and tell us what you love about it.
MORE
Browse more cosy fireside retreats
Even the tiniest cottage has room for a wood-stove for both heating and cooking. Even better, hook up a wet-back to the stove for free hot water heating all winter long.